Chess: Haridas Pascua gets final grandmaster norm

MANILA, Philippines – You have to believe it: Haridas Pascua, who played like a tailender in the Asian Continental Championship two weeks ago, shed off his inhibitions to get his third and final grandmaster norm at the Abu Dhabi Masters Open Tournament on Sunday, August 30.

He drew his final round game against Hungarian Gabor Papp to log 5.5 points in the ninth and last round. Pascua finished in a group tied from 21st to 35th places.  

But World Chess Federation regulations say Pascua cannot be awarded the grandmaster title until he hits an Elo rating of 2500. His present rating is 2447. There is no deadline to reach the 2500 Elo rating. 

“I hope I can reach the 2500 rating this year. My tournament schedule is set,” said Pascua in a Facebook private message to Rappler.com, a 22-year-old who graduated in information technology at the University of Baguio. He will be playing in the Malaysian Open in September. 

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Pascua’s campaign to get the 2500 rating will be supported by sponsors in Pangasinan, Baguio and the Filipino Chess Players in the United Arab Emirates.  

If he raises his Elo rating to 2500, he will become the Philippines’ 12th grandmaster and the first since 2011. Pascua obtained his International Master title last year.  

Pascua’s GM norm campaign was nearly undone after he lost in the sixth and seventh rounds, dropping him out of the top the places of this tournament where least 40 grandmasters competed. 

“I had to focus on my next two rounds. I had to forget the previous results,” Pascua said.

Pascua’s participation in the Asian championship and the Abu Dhabi Open were not supported by the Philippine Sports Commission. He and his father Gilbert had to raise money and one generous backer were Filipino chess players in the UAE and Toti Abundo, secretary general of the Asian Chess Federation. 

Winning the bronze in the blitz event at the Asian Continental Championship boosted Pascua’s spirits, which had fallen after he was beaten even by lower-rated players.

“Perhaps I tried too hard,” said Pascua then. – Rappler.com